Kitchen Tools You Will Need

You don´t need to spend a lot of money on kitchen tools and equipment, but you should invest wisely on a few select products that will enhance your kitchen experience. This is not intended to be a complete list, but it will give you some ideas on some of the more important items you should have on hand:

Good set of knives: You are more likely to cut yourself using dull or cheap knives. Make sure you find a set of knives that are comfortable to hold and well balanced. I believe you are better off having two or three really good knives, instead of a cheap set. The most used knife is an 8ó to 10ó chef knife. You will also need a smaller paring knife.

A good set of pots and pans: Good pans with a heavy bottom are a must for anyone who really likes to cook. You want to find something that can evenly displace the heat. While non- stick pans are easy to clean, they are not good for braising and sautéing, especially if you want to capture the intense flavor of deglazing the pan. My favorite pan is a very large 15ó pan that I use to sear meat. I would also pick up a black iron skillet. They are not very expensive, but make sure you properly cure your black iron skillet before using. To cure your black iron skillet, make sure you first wash it thoroughly to remove any existing coatings from the manufacturer. Then grease the skillet on the inside thoroughly with a light coat of vegetable oil and bake it in your oven at 350 degrees for at least one hour. You will also want a good òDutchó oven, which is a very heavy pot with a lid that you can use in the oven or on the stove top.

Miniature food processor: Most people have a large food processor and rarely use them. A small food processor (typically 2-4 cups), on the other hand, will save you a lot of time in preparing your dishes. For instance, any recipe that calls for a minced vegetable or spice is an ideal candidate for the miniature food processor.

Hand blender (emulsion blender): This is another handy device that will save you a lot of time and make your dishes much better. It will usually save you from having to transfer your dish in stages to a blender or large food processor to create cream sauces and soups. Always remember to use caution when blending hot liquids.

Oil thermometer: The secret to any fried food is oil temperature. If it gets too cool, it will emulsify the food with grease. If it gets too hot, it will destroy the flavor. An oil thermometer is a good investment.

Food brushes: I have a variety of brushes that I use for everything from applying BBQ sauce to ribs to coating bruschetta with olive oil. The best brushes have a soft and synthetic bristle that almost resembles little rubber strings.